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Corzine budget address expected to spread the pain

March 10, 2009

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine will make his annual budget address at noon today. WHYY’s Tom MacDonald reports the governor’s spending plan is expected to include major cuts that reflect the economic climate.

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine will make his annual budget address at noon today. WHYY’s Tom MacDonald reports the governor’s spending plan is expected to include major cuts that reflect the economic climate.

Transcript:
Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts says he expects Corzine’s budget to offer pain and suffering for just about everyone.

Roberts: “No one’s going to embrace this. It’s a horribly tough, terribly unpleasant budget. I think New Jerseyans know, as people throughout the country do, that the problems we are experiencing are unprecedented in the last three generations.”

The governor is expected to threaten layoffs for thousands of state workers if they don’t accept a wage freeze and furloughs. Senate President Richard Codey says the unions representing state employees need to understand the budget situation is bleak.

Codey: “We’d like to see some sort of compromise be arrived at. They understand they have to do something.”

Speaker Roberts says the good news is that Corzine will preserve property tax rebates for seniors, and hopefully other low income residents, struggling to make ends meet in the tough economy.